Breaking: Bush Commutes Libby’s Sentence

…Bush commuted Lewis “Scooter” Libby’s prison term in the CIA leak case, saying the 2 1/2 year prison term was “excessive.”

No it was not. What was excessive was Cheney, Libby, and Rove outing a CIA officer who was in charge of keeping WMD’s from proliferating because her husband exposed the Bush Junta’s lies about Iraq, then obstructing the investigation into the damage done to national security by their actions.

Libby, 56, was convicted of lying to investigators probing the 2003 leak of CIA official Valerie Plame’s identity. Backers of Libby, former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, had argued for a pardon. Bush acted after a U.S. appellate court today refused to let Libby stay out of prison during his appeal.

“My decision to commute his prison sentence leaves in place a harsh punishment for Mr. Libby,” Bush said in a statement. “The consequences of his felony conviction on his former life as a lawyer, public servant, and private citizen will be long-lasting.”

The president’s [sic] action means that Libby’s conviction still stands and he is still required to pay the $250,000 fine ordered by a federal judge.

A fine which is going to be paid for Libby’s bevy of millionaire, extreme right-wing supporters. At least his disbarment is going to be permanent, and as a felon he will be unable to vote for a while.